Drop-In Drawing at the Denver Art Museum with Brian Essig-Peppard

For our March session, we explored comic art with Brian Essig-Peppard, an amazing multi-talented artist who works in the industries of tv, comic books, and film. He taught us the basics in comic book making, provided us with inspiring word prompts to get the creative juices flowing, and pre-started a panel to create a collaborative narrative. Many of the participants used the Denver Art Museum's Stampede exhibit to incorporate animals into their humorous narratives. Here are some photos from this fun session with Brian. 

Printing at Processus

Viviane le Courtois and Christopher R. Perez at Processus inspired me to create solar etchings. Solarplate etching is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional etching. My ink paintings on transparencies were layered onto a light sensitized steel backed polymer plate. UV light (or sunlight) etches the plate and then it's washed with tap water. With Viviane le Courtois and Christopher R. Perez's assistance, their UV light, and press, I created solar etchings and now I want to create more! The prints are on view at Processus' Altered Nature exhibition through May 19th. Here are some photographs of the process as well as Altered Nature's reception which was also Processus' three year anniversary celebration. 

Drop-In Drawing at the Denver Art Musem in Linking Asia: Art, Trade, and Devotion

This month we explored Denver Art Museum's Linking Asia: Art, Trade, and Devotion featuring approximately 150 artworks from the Denver Art Museum collection. This show contains artwork from 20 countries that span 2,500 years. We were inspired by the dynamic range of media, rich history, and influences of migration on artistic styles in the exhibit. Join us with Comic Artist Brian Esseg-Peppard for a lesson on comic-art on March 13, 2018.

Drop-In Drawing at the Denver Art Museum with Jaime Molina

Drop-In Drawing took inspiration from Jamie Molina's interactive and immersive installation Past the Tangled Present. We were so excited when Jamie Molina joined our Drop-In session to talk about his installation and create drawings. Here is a quote from the artist: 

“I was keeping in mind the discovery concept, but rather than focusing on just the discovery element, I thought it was appropriate to add in the possible microcosms that one could encounter on any given day. People get so caught up in the daily events and bustle that a great discovery could be right under their nose and they would miss it because they were too caught up in the tangle of everyday life. If one were able to slow down they could fall into these small moments of discovery and joy. Much like the wonder and openness of a child. They could see past the tangled present.” -Jaime Molina

Thank you, Jaime for sharing your creativity and incredible art skills with Drop-In Drawing.

Drop-In Drawing at the Denver Art Museum's "Stampede" exhibit

Drop-In Drawing explored Level 4 of "Stampede: Animals in Art," a large-scale exhibition (on view through May 2019) that features animals depicted in over 300 objects from the Denver Art Museum's collection. The show encompasses a variety of animals from ancient times to contemporary. Participants worked with charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, and/or pastel. 

"Foodies" at Sandra Phillips Gallery on view through January 6, 2018

Celebrating our contemporary foodie culture through art. 

Pink Progression

I've been having so much fun organizing these two upcoming exhibitions that commemorate the January 21, 2017 women's marches. I'm working with over forty incredible local artists who will incorporate the color pink, which was used as an empowering and unifying element during the marches. The exhibitions include an interactive postcard call for entry installation, a collection of writing from local writers/artists, collaborative artwork, workshops, a book that documents the group's process, and pink inspired community gatherings. Check it out at the following link: http://www.pinkprogression.wordpress.com

Denver Public Library Exhibition Dates: March 2 - June 29, 2018, Opening Reception: March 10, 1:30 - 4:30

Boulder Public Library Exhibition Dates: February 16 - March 24, 2018, Opening Reception: March 2, 6 - 8 p.m.

Drop-In Drawing at the Denver Art Museum's "Ganesha: The Playful Protector"

As the new year approaches, we explored themes of prosperity, fortune and new beginnings in the exhibition Ganesha: The Playful Protector, which includes ancient to modern representations of this iconic Hindu deity. The exhibit is on view through October 28, 2018.  

Drop-In Drawing at the Denver Art Musem's "Stampede" Exhibit

Drop-In Drawing explored "Stampede: Animals in Art," a large-scale exhibition (on view through May 2019) that features animals depicted in over 300 objects from the Denver Art Museum's collection. The show encompasses a variety of animals from ancient times to contemporary. Participants worked with charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, and/or pastel. 

Drop-In Drawing at Fazal Sheikh's "Common Ground" exhibition

For our September session we used graphite and charcoal to explore the stunning visual relationships in critically acclaimed photographer Fazal Sheikh’s portraits and landscapes of marginalized communities around the world. Sheikh's photographs are incredibly powerful, heart wrenching, and intimate. Check out "Common Ground" at the Denver Art Museum through November 12, 2017. For more information check out his website at fazlsheikh.org.

 

Evolution of "Crimson Plume" for BMoCA ARTMIX

For "Crimson Plume," I created a watercolor pour as a background element. These images document the spontaneity of the pour and how the very wet, blurred beginning transforms to defined, textured patterns. After the pour dried, I painted the Indian Paintbrush flowers. This painting will be included in Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art's ARTMIX silent auction. 

Crimson Plume (18.5 x 26," watercolor on paper) features Colorado wildflower Castilleja, also known as Indian Paintbrush. This fire-tolerant plant can re-sprout from its rhizome (underground stem) and disperse its wind-carried seeds after a fire.

Crimson Plume, detail

Artist Julia Rymer and I at the ARTMIX auction. 

Drop-In Drawing taking inspiration from "La Musidora" at the Denver Art Museum

For our August session, we used watercolor pencils and pastels to create drawings of the Denver Art Museum's summer plaza installation's, La Musidora, compelling sound, movements and playful colors. Drop-in Writing at the museum will write about each of our drawings and the collaboration will be posted on WriteDenver.org. 

Visit to Pike National Forest, the Hayman Fire Zone

I set up time-lapse equipment to document an Indian Paintbrush on July 30th. I will retrieve equipment on August 20th, for a three week time-lapse. Here are some photographs from the visit. 

Drop-In Drawing at the Denver Art Museum

I had a fabulous time instructing Drop-In Drawing at the museum this month. We each drew a section of a painting, from the Dietler Gallery of Western Art, with colored pencils. Once all of the completed sections were put together, Victor Higgins' iconic painting Aspen Trees at Twining was revealed. Some of the participants, whose ages ranged from 8 to 80, altered the color of the original painting, creating a final piece that contained more subjective expression. 

Drop-In Drawing meets at the Denver Art Museum on the second Tuesday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information click here.

Visit to Green Mountain after the February '17 fire

Panel Discussion with Michael Paglia at Sandra Phillips Gallery →

Thank you to Michael Paglia for leading a fascinating discussion on art and social change at Sandra Phillips Gallery's "Matters on Paper" exhibition. It was wonderful to connect with participants as well as artists a part of the community and show, Margaret Kasahara and Joshua Field. 

Sierra Club Art Auction

Sandhill Crane, ink on paper, 10.5 x 7" was one of two ink paintings that I donated to the Sierra Club Art Auction. The even was held at ReCreative in the Santa Fe Art District in Denver and donated proceeds towards protecting Colorado's environment. More information on participating artists can be found here.